President Cristina Takes Charge

Argentina swears in first elected woman president
By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 11, 2007 3:15 AM CST
President Cristina Takes Charge
Argentina's new president Cristina Fernandez, left, and her husband, departing president Nestor Kirchner, raise their arms during a music festival in front of the presidential palace in Buenos Aires after she was sworn in Monday, Dec. 10, 2007. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)   (Associated Press)

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, the first woman to be elected president of Argentina, took office today with ominous promises about the Argentine economy and the sovereignty of the disputed Falkland Islands. The crowd chanted "Viva, Cristina!" as the country's First Lady succeeded her husband, Nestor, as head of state, reports the Times of London.

In her inaugural address she said she would not listen to calls for Argentina's rapidly growing economy to slow. “Every time that has been said, Argentina ended up in recession,” said the Social Democrat. She also described Argentinian sovereignty in the Falklands, or Malvinas, over which Argentina and Britain fought a war in 1982, as "non-negotiable." (More Argentina stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X